Novelty item

Abstract

A box with a lid is provided with the lid having spring hinges normally urging the lid closed. A battery operated control unit is situated within the box operatively connected to a display screen at the front of the box which is visible when the lid is open a predetermined amount by a solenoid. The control unit includes an adjustable timer which opens the lid at random intervals to display the screen. The control unit also projects a pair of circles of light on the screen simulating a pair of eyes which move on the screen in a predetermined pattern after which the lid closes with a snapping sound. Normally the screen is black but colors may be introduced either into the screen or the simulated eyes as desired.

We claim: 
     
       1. A novelty item comprising in combination an enclosure, a cover component hinged by one side thereof to the rear side of said enclosure, a source of an electrical power in said enclosure, and an electronic control unit within said enclosure operatively connected selectively to said source of electrical power, a display screen in said enclosure for displaying images thereon, and being operatively connected to said control unit, said display screen being situated adjacent the front side of said enclosure and extending into said cover component when same is in the closed position but being visible form the front of said enclosure when said cover component is in the open position, said images comprising a pair of spaced apart illuminated circles simulating a pair of eyes, and moveable across said screen in a predetermined pattern selected by said control unit, and means operatively connected to said control unit to open and close said cover component. 
     
     
       2. The novelty item according to claim 1 in which said enclosure includes a base, a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of ends walls thereby forming a open top hollow enclosure, said cover component including a topped panel, a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of ends walls thereby forming an open based hollow component to receive the major portion of said display screen when said cover component is in the closed position. 
     
     
       3. The novelty item according to claim 2 in which said cover component opens an amount whereby the lower edge of said front wall is substantially level with the upper edge of said display screen. 
     
     
       4. The novelty item according to claim 2 which includes control switch means operatively connected to said control unit whereby the timing of the opening and closing of said cover component may be selected within predetermined limits and movement of said simulated pair of eyes on said display screen may be selected from a plurality of predetermined patterns stored within said control unit. 
     
     
       5. The novelty item according to claim 4 which includes means in said control unit to extinguish momentarily, one or both of said simulated eyes thereby producing a winking or blinking action thereof. 
     
     
       6. The novelty item according to claim 1 which includes control switch means operatively connected to said control unit whereby the timing of the opening and closing of said cover component my be selected within predetermined limits and movement of said simulated pair of eyes on said display screen may be selected from a plurality of predetermined patterns stored within said control unit. 
     
     
       7. The novelty item according to claim 6 which includes means in said control unit to extinguish momentarily, one or both of said simulated eyes thereby producing a winking or blinking action thereof. 
     
     
       8. The novelty item according to claim 1 which includes means in said control unit to extinguish momentarily, one or both of said simulated eyes thereby producing a winking or blinking action thereof. 
     
     
       9. The novelty item according to claim 1 in which said lighted circles have a width greater than the unilluminated centre thereof.